ROMP
Let your dog sniff the ages in the country’s oldest park, where cows once grazed. The Boston Common has a small zone where leash-less dogs are permitted in the early mornings and evenings. In addition, the city’s extensive Frederick Law Olmstead-designed parks make for excellent, mostly leashed, walking, especially Jamaica Pond. Of Boston’s two official off-leash parks, the Peters Park Dog Run in the South End is nice, but the off-leash go-to is Fresh Pond, across the river in Cambridge.

READ
With a staggering number of eggheadsper- square-mile, Boston has wonderful bookstores (remember those?) and quite a few permit canine browsers—including the Harvard Bookstore, Rodney’s Bookstore and Schoenhof’s Foreign Books in Cambridge. Stretch your legs during a leashed walk around Harvard Yard.

BONE UP ON HISTORY
Rock the Cradle of Liberty during a self-guided revolutionary history tour along the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail—from Boston Common to Bunker Hill. You can catch the T home; leashed, well-behaved dogs are allowed on the subway during off-peak hours.

BROWSE
Leashed dogs are welcome at the SoWa Open Market. The thriving Sunday market on the South End is a market mash-up of artisan and vintage wares and farmers’ market, plus, food trucks! Look for Polka Dog Bakery, named for a one-eyed former stray from Puerto Rico. Sundays, May to September, 10 am–4 pm.

SHOP
Bring your pup shopping in the Back Bay neighborhood. They can join you at Crate and Barrel, Anthropologie, Lord & Taylor and Filene’s Basement, among others. Then chill with pups on the patio at the Globe Bar and Café (565 Boylston St.) or treat your buddy to Boston-made organic Yöghund Frozen Yogurt from Fish & Bone pet boutique (217 Newbury St.).

DAY TRIP
Doggie heaven is just a ferry ride (and a short drive) away from Rowes Wharf at Bare Cove Park, a former shipbuilding center and depot in Hingham, Mass. Dogs under voice control can meander wide, paved pathways through 400-plus acres of woods and meadows. While your four-legged buddy sleeps off the run, buzz around the seaside village, which is home to America’s oldest continuously worshipped-in church, the Old Ship.

The Liberty Hotel
From the Charles River to the harbor, “America’s Walking City” is steeped (like tea, of course) in four centuries of fascinating history, much of which can be appreciated from the sidewalk with your pup at your side. Sporting panoramic views and a six-mile-long front yard known as the Esplanade, The Liberty Hotel is a deluxe home base for a canine-centered adventure in Beantown. A former Victorian-era prison in Beacon Hill, this National Historic Landmark opened in 2007 after a $150 million renovation. Exposed brick walls, wrought-iron chandeliers, three stories of balconies (former prison catwalks) and a 90-foot central rotunda and cupola make it a regular location for fashion shows, galas and other events. But dogs are the stars when the city throws off its winter chill, and both species belly up to the outdoor bar for cocktails prison exercise area. Known as Yappier Hour (Wednesdays, 5–7 pm), this local tradition attracts a regular coterie of dog-loving Bostonians as well as hotel guests.

There is a $100 pet fee per stay. Ask about the special Paw Prints Package, which includes a professional pet portrait sitting, starting at $469 for one night.